January's Storytime Saturday

January's Storytime Saturday was all about winter. We read Jan Brett's newest book, The Snowy Nap, about Hedgie, who wants to stay awake so he won't miss all the winter fun. We also read one of my favorites, Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, which shows a child and parent having fun cross-country skiing in the woods where animals are hibernating. This book is full of facts about the ways that woodland animals survive during the cold winter months.

We made snowmen from felt and decorated them with paper and ribbons. With white crayons, we drew snowflakes on white paper, then washed over them with blue watercolor paint. We added shaving cream to baking soda to make a snowy mixture. And, because we read about it in Over and Under the Snow, we watched this video of a fox leaping high into the air to catch his lunch.

Storm's a-Coming!

What's our favorite wintertime truck? A snowplow! This week we read Small Walt by Elizabeth Verdick, about a small yet determined city plow on the lot and how he helps during a big snowstorm. Then we read Small Walt and Mo the Tow by the same author, about the same small plow and how he helps a tow truck help a car who is stuck. We also read an old favorite, Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton, about Katy, a big red crawler tractor who plowed out all of Geopolis after a blizzard hit the city. Our last book was Supertruck byStephen Savage, about an unsuspecting garbage truck who becomes a snowplow and saves the city after it's hit with a colossal snowstorm!

On blue construction paper, we drew white chalk snowflakes. Then, using construction paper shapes and scraps, we made a snowplow. Lastly, we added a cardboard scoop and some cotton "snow". 

Bring on the snowstorm!

Animals at LEGO Club

At this month's LEGO Club, we read The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen. Then Mr. Dowal challenged us to make an animal from LEGO! Here are a few of our creations!

Winter Snow

All the kids at Storytime love snow! Today we read stories about winter and snow - and we made a snowman!

First we read Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes, which showed lots of snow and how animals and children react to it. It also showed us what happens as winter ends! Then we read First Snow by Bernette Ford, about Bunny and his brother experiencing their first snowfall. Our final story was Ladybug Girl and the Big Snow by David Soman, about Lulu and her dog Bingo finding ways to have fun on a cold and snowy day!

Our craft was to make a snowman. We started with white felt circles of different sizes to make the "snowballs" for the snowman. Then we decorated with paper scraps, tiny pieces of colored felt, ribbon and yarn, and fluffy cotton. Kids gave their snowmen hats and scarves, and some added trees or houses. White chalk snowflakes decorated the blue background.

 Just like real snowmen, each one was different!

A Brand New Year!

We have had our first Storytime of 2019! First we read the tiny book Chicken Soup with Rice, A Book of Months by Maurice Sendak, and talked about what each month might be like. Then we talked about this new year and how we will be able to repeat many events and times that we have had previously - another Spring, another Summer, another Fourth of July and Halloween... We looked at a calendar to find some of 2019's holidays. We also talked about having another birthday - every one of us! We looked at the calendar again to find out when those would be. We have two birthdays coming in January - this month!

Then we read A Birthday for Bear by Bonny Becker, about Bear, who does not like parties, or balloons, or cards, or presents. He would rather be left alone on his birthday! We laughed as kind-hearted Mouse tried to change Bear's mind! Our craft was a beautiful paper plate birthday crown, decorated with crayons and stars and stickers.

Before we went home, we read The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli. In the story, a baby gets a birthday present that he uses over and over and over again as his imagination soars. Can you guess what the present might be?

2019

Picture books about the cycle of the year!

Happy New Year from us to you!

Pajama Storytime

Yes! Pajamas at the library! Yesterday morning, we gathered for Christmas stories and hot chocolate and a Christmas craft. Kids left with decorated reindeer hats and red noses - looking like Rudolph! Merry Christmas to us!

December LEGO Club

LEGO Club kids today listened to the The Night Before Christmas - A Brick Story, illustrated by Amanda Brack. They joined in the reading and noticed the creative uses of bricks in the color photographs. The LEGO Challenge for today was to make a small ornament from bricks. When it was completed, kids attached a gold wire for hanging and a small tag with the date for remembering. They also made a second ornament to put in the library's display case.

"Gingerbread" Houses 2018

This weekend we held our annual December S.T.E.M. event, building gingerbread houses with graham crackers and marshmallows. First we read the story of The Gingerbread Boy by author Richard Egielski.  When we got to work with the materials, most builders chose to make their structures with a milk carton base, using royal icing "glue" to hold the graham cracker sides and roofs in place. Candy, cereal, and pretzels were used for decorating. What do you think of our constructions?

Yum!!!

Today we read stories about food!! We first read How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food by Jane Yolen, about the good and bad eating habits a dinosaur might have. Next, we read I Really Like Slop! an Elephant and Piggie book by Mo Willems. In it, Piggie convinces Elephant to try some of his favorite food, slop. You can imagine what happens!! We finished the hour with Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper, about three woodland friend who share the soup-making experience and what happens when one of them wants a different role.

Then we used all sort of materials and craft items to build a representation of our favorite meal on a paper plate. See the plate with spaghetti, marshmallows, and peas - and the pizza with cheese and pepperoni? YUM!